It's Kobe, Pau ... and then everyone else

Game 1 of the NBA Finals was a good team victory for the Lakers, who were particularly pleased that both guys who weren't around to contribute against Boston two years ago -- Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum -- did solid jobs. The Lakers lived up to the buzz at Staples Center leading up to and early in the game, with many fans wearing gold T-shirts and one wearing one with a handicapped sign with the message: "PAUL PIERCE PARKING ONLY."

Ultimately, though, the Lakers' success boiled down -- as usual -- to the talents and execution of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. I delved deeper into their relationship in my column about their Game 1 and this entire season in which there were the first reports of discord.

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